Flexible hydraulic tube and auger for cleaning clogged pipes



Aug. 26, 1952 L w SCHNEPP 2,608,421

FLEXIBLE P IYDR AULIC TUBE AND AUGER FOR CLEANING CLOGGED PIPES Filed D60. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. Lou/s SCHNEPP J A TTOR'NEY.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 FLEXIBLE HYDRAULIC TUBE AND AUGER FOR CLEANING CLOGGED PIPES Louis W. Schnelm, San Bernardino, Calif.

Application December 13, 1947, Serial No. 791,503

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a flexible tubular member carrying at its forward end, an auger and which is generally referred to by plumbers and sewer workmen as a snake and particularly adapted for the rapid and efficient cleaning of plugged waste and drain pipes.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide a pipe and tube cleaning device including a flexible tube carrying at its forward end, an auger adapted to bore through pipe clogging material as the tool is bodily rotated and further, to provide within said flexible tube, a smaller concentric flexible tube which functions to carry fluid pressure and direct same in a jet, through the auger in order to dissolve and there- ..by expedite removal of, the clogging material.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pipe cleaning device of the character referred to which is, in effect, a one piece implement, inasmuch as it is devoid of parts and accessories, which if detached might be mislaid or lost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of my improved pipe cleaner.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, l designates a flexible tube, preferably formed in a single piece from closely coiled wire or from a strip of ribbon like metal, coiled so that its edges overlap one another.

Rigidly secured to one end of coil 10 is a collar ll, provided on its outer end with a flange l2 and mounted to rotate on said coil is a female coupling member l3, provided on its inner end with a flange [4 which engages behind flange 12 on the collar.

At the opposite or forward end of coil I 0, a number of the convolutions thereof are spaced apart and gradually increase in diameter to form an anger l5 and the end of the outer one of said convolutions is flattened, as designated by Hi to form a cutting edge or point I5 The fluid pressure conduit of the tool consists of a coil l6, of wire or flat ribbon like metal which extends through and fits snugly within a coil l0, and secured to the rear end of this coil within coupling l3, and bearing against the end convolution of coil l0 and flange I2 is a flange or washer H.

A suitable packing ring or gasket I8 is disposed within coupling l3 against flange IT. The forward end of coil It extends a short distance forwardly into auger IE, to form a, jet nozzle I9. To use the cleanout tool, auger I5 is inserted in the cloned pipe and moved forward to the oh- 2 struction, and by rotating tube l0 and applying forward pressure thereto, the auger will be driven into the obstruction and thereby break up and disintegrate same and if necessary this action may be enhanced and accelerated, by establishing a flow of fluid pressure, for instance, water, through tube 16 and thereby deliver the jet from nozzle l9, directly into the obstructing body or material.

It is to be understood that when fluid pressure is helpful in the cleaning out function, coupling 13 is connected to male coupling 0 on the end of a fluid pressure supply pipe and which latter is preferably provided with a swivelled joint to permit rotation of the tool while in use.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a practically one piece pipe and sewer clean out tool, which is simple in structure, inexpensive of manufacture and very eifective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

Minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved pipe and sewer cleaner may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A coupling for flexible hydraulic tubes and augurs used for cleaning clogged pipes comprising a tube of coiled wire, a collar exteriorly and rigidly secured on the end of said tube, a flange projecting outwardly from said collar and surrounding said tube, an internally threaded female coupling member mounted for rotation on said collar. a tube of coiled wire extending loosely through said first mentioned coil, a washer secured on the end of said second mentioned tube and bearing against the outwardly presented flange of said collar and a packing ring loosely arranged within said female coupling member and bearing against the washer secured to the end of said second mentioned coiled tube.

LOUIS W. SCI-INEPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

